Good day, good people of Hive! It's another edition of Hive Naija Weekly Prompt, and I want to share with you the unforgettable 24 hours of my life. The unforgettable 24 hours of my life was when I had a severe ulcer attack. That wasn't the first time, but because I was alone in the house I was staying in, it felt particularly challenging. My sister had traveled, because we both stay together. After completing our higher institutions, we decided to stay in our parents other house, which is in a different area from where we grew up. But same town with my parents.
On that day, I had a lot of work to do. I worked all day on an order and had some deliveries to make. In the evening, after I was done with the order, I delivered, got back home, and started feeling this excruciating pain in my body. At first, I thought it was just body pain due to the stress and work I had done that day. I used some body pain relief drugs and rested on the couch, but the pain became so serious that I couldn't even explain what was happening to me. I didn't even know it was an ulcer pain because it had been a while since I experienced it.
It was already late at night, and I couldn't call my mom. I didn't want to use another painkiller, fearing it might lead to an overdose. I was writhing in pain silently, managing to make my way to my bedroom, rolling to the left and right on my bed. It felt like my life was ending that day. I was praying, asking for forgiveness, and quoting scriptures – "I shall not die but live." The pain was hanging on my chest and back, and I was holding both my chest and back, trying to find some relief. I would stand up and sit down, but nothing seemed to work.
I kept checking the time every few seconds, praying for sleep to come, but sleep didn't come at all. I wished time could be faster, but when you're in pain, time seems to stand still. We always say time flies when we're at peace, but when someone is in pain, they'll know how slow time can be. I kept checking the time again and again, willing the hours to pass.
At last, I checked the time, and it was 5 am. I quickly called my mom to help me get in touch with a nurse who attended her church. The nurse came after 6 am, and although it seemed like she took forever to arrive, she administered some injections and medication. For 30 minutes, nothing changed, but after 30 minutes, I started to see some improvement. She left and told me to call her if the pain persisted.
My mom came after the nurse left, and I was able to sleep for some hours. After I woke up, the pain continued, and we had to visit the hospital. The doctor confirmed it was an ulcer and prescribed some medication that gradually alleviated the pain. That night, that day, is a day I will never forget. It was a harrowing experience, but it taught me the importance of seeking help when needed and appreciating the support of loved ones. I would have called for helped when it started but I thought I would be okay after the pain killer drugs. It also taught me to always seek for help on time.